Ironing machine



June l8r,l 1929,

E. J. CARROLL ET AL 1,717,874

IRONING MACHINE Filed July 1, 1925 5 Sheets-SheelI 1 36 I 30 o 5?/ Y I 7 9525 0 f 4 3.9 g /W s?? 7 37 d o NVENTORJ" June 18, 1929- E. J. CARROLL ET AL 1.717.874

IRONING MACHINE Filed July l 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 18, l929 E. J. CARROLL ET AL 1,717,874

IRONING MACHINE Filed July l, 1925 5 SheehS-Sheel*l 5 l N VEN T Ol( J' HW @wm June 1s, 1929. E, J, CARROLL lET AL 1,717,874

IRONING MACHINE c,une i8, 92 E. J. CARRQLL. ET AL IRONING MACHINE Filed July l, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 18, 192,9.

UNITED STATES 1,717,874 PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL J. CARROLL AND GEORGE W. OHNSON, F NORWOOD, OHIO, ASIGNORS TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, 0F NORWOOD, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION 0F OHIO.

Application led July 1,

This invention relates to pressing and ironing machines.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved combination machine adapted for use selectively in either of two ways, first, as a pressing machine of the Scissors type, useful for pressing garments or other articles of all kinds, wherein a movable up per pressing member or head is movedmto and out of pressing relation with a relativel stationary lower pressing member or be and second, as an ironing machine of the roll and platen type, for ironing body clothes, or flat work, such as towels, sheets, handkerchiefs and the like, and in which roll and platen machine the roll carries the work over or along a concave ironing platen chest.

Another object of the invention is to provide suitable control and operating mechanism for the machine, including means for rotating the roll either continuously or step by step, according to the manner of use of` the machine, means for rotating the roll continuously with the head in either raised or lowered position, means for preventing rotation of the roll when the head is being moved toward or away from the roll, means controlled by the movement of the head or platen for automatically rotating the roll to advance the work across the platen, and means for preventing simultaneous operation of both the head and rotary bed to permit the use of a small motor and decrease power consumption, as well as a safety device at the feeding entrance to the machine adapted to safeguard the operator against injury and so arranged that when injury may occur the safety device is actuated to both stop rotation of the roll and open the machine, said safety device being adjustable into and out of operative position and including a feeding apron for the work.

Further objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

Inthe drawings which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is an elevation of the left hand end of the machine, parts being broken away and in section to show interior construction; Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section on the line 2 2, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the opening limit switch; Fig. 4 is a detail View, partly in section, illustrating the IRONING MACHINE.

1925. Serial No. 40,845.

pressure limit switch and the operating means therefor; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the clutch and brake mechanism, the section being taken on approximately the line 5-5, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View of a roll controlling switch, the view being taken on the line 6;-6, Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a detail View of the switch mechanism for controlling roll rotation by movement of the head; Fig..8 is in part an elevation and in part a section on the line 8-8, Fig. 7; Fig. 9- is a plan of the roll with the head removed; Fig. 10 is a detail end View, partly in section on the line 10-10, Fig. 11, and illustrating the feeding device and safety switch; Fig. 11 is a front view of one end of the feeding mechanism, with part broken away to .show interior construction; Fig. 12 is a detail section of the feeding mechanism on the line 12-12, Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is a detail end View of the switch mechanism for controlling the roll rotation, the casing cover being omitted to expose interior parts; Fig. 14 is a section thereof on thevl-ine lll-14, Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is an electrical diagram of the control circuits; and Fig. 16 is an across-the-line diagram, illustrating the several steps and circuits created during operation of the machine.

The frame 1 of the machine is provided with a pedestal 2 having a bearing 3 for the roll shaft 4 on which are supports 5 for the padded roll or bed 6, the padding 6a of which may be of cork or any other suitable resilient material. At one end, the roll shaft is provided with suitable driving mechanism, such as the worm gear 7 rotated by a worm 8 on a shaft 9 driven through bevel gears 10 from a shaft 11.

Co-operating with the roll or bed 6 is a hollow heated chest, head or platen 12, of usual form, mounted upon one arm of a lever 13 pivoted at 14 in an upwardly extending rear portion of the frame. The head is moved into and out of pressing engagement with the padded roll by oscillation of the lever 13. The operating mechanism for said lever comprises a pair of main toggle meinbers, including an upper member, marked generally 16, and the lower member 17 pivoted together at the knuckle 18, from which a connecting rod 19 extends to a crank 20 on the shaft 21 provided with a worm wheel 22 driven by a worm 23 on shaft 24. The lower toggle member 17 is pivoted at 25 to the stationary frame, while the upper toggle ,member 16 is provided with an adjustable nut 26 against which seats one end of a compression'spring 27, the other end thereof (Fig. 4) engaging the swivel block 28 provided with trunnions 29 mounted in the rear arm of the lever 13. When the crank 2O is moved to the position shown in Fig. 1, to thereby straighten the toggle, the pressure ele'ct of the motor is imparted by the toggle members to the rear arm of the head lever through the compression spring 27, which yields and limits the maximum pressure of the head upon the roll to an amount predetermined by the position to which the nut 26 is adjusted. An upwardly extending portion of the upper toggle 16 is in the form of a rod 30 which slides through the swivel block 28 and is provided on its upper end with an adjustable nut 31 which rises away from. the swivel block 28, or to the position shown in Fig. 4, when the spring 27 is compressed and the predetermined pressure is produced. This motion of the nut 31 is used to automatically limit or terminate the closing operation of the press mechanism, as will later appear. Attached to the front of the swivel block 28 is a bracket 32, said bracket being provided with an elongated slot 33 for the securin bolt 34 to enable said bracket and the switc 1 carried thereby to be adjusted along the swivelv for timin the switch. The

bracket carries any sultable form of quick throwing switch, indicated generally at 35, the operating lever 36 of sald switch being pivotally connected to the nut 31. When the press is in open position, the operating lever 36 and nut 31 occupy the dotted line positions, Fig. 4. lHowever, when the press is closed and the predetermined pressure has been applied, nut 31 rises to the full line position, thereby swinging lever 36 and throwing the'switch 35 to open the motor circuit and terminate the closing operation, as will appear.

Upon the frame is mounted a similar quick throwing switch 37, normally held in one position by a tension spring 38, and the operating arm 39 of which is connected to a lever 40 having a roller 41 lying in the path of movement of a portion kof the head lever. Fig. 1 shows the press in closed osition, the motor circuit being closed throng the switch 37. However, when the press is opened, lever 13 engages the roller 41 and moves lever 40 to the dotted line position, Fig. 3 and actuates the switch 37 to open the motor circuit and terminate the press opening operation.

The machine is operated by a suitable driver, such as the electric motor 42, arranged to drive a shaft 43 through the coupling 44. On said shaft 1s a worm 45 driving a worm wheel 46 on shaft 11 before referred to, said shaft 11 having splined thereto a sliding cone'clutch member 47 cooperatmatically at 56, Figs. 15 and 16, these parts being constructed and operated in the same manner as like parts shown in Fig. 5 and hereafter described more in detail.

'lhe mechanism just described enables the roll rotating gearing to be coupled to the driving motor by energization of coil 50 and roll rotation to be quickly stopped by the application of the brake 54 when coil 50 is de-energized to release the clutch 47, 48.

The same shaft 43 which is utilized as the driver for the roll rotating mechanism is also utilized to actuate the head carrying lever 13. -F or this purpose'a shaft 43 has splined thereto a clutch member 6() cooperating with a clutch member 61 having a brake drum 62 around which is a brake band 63. Clutch is actuated by a lever 64 and is moved to driving position by energization of the coil ot the electromagnet 65 connected to lever 64, thereby driving member 61 and the shaft 24 to which it is secured. When coil 65 is de-energized to release the clutch, the head lever moving mechanism is quickly brought to rest by the application of the brake band 63 to the brake drum 62, the operating mechanism for brake band 63 including a spring 62a and an electromagnet 66, the. electromagnet being diagrammatically shown in Fig. 15 and both the coil and spring being enclosed within the casing 67 Fig. 2 and being of the same form and arrangement as the spring and 'coil before referred to .for operating the brake band 54.

68 illustrates an enclosing casing having therein a switch including the contacts 69 and bridging contact 70 carried and actuated by a rod 71 slidable in said casing and connected by a link 72 to the treadle 473, beneath which is a compression spring 74 to normally elevate the treadle and maintain the switch in open position, as shown in Fig. 6. This switch, as will appear, is in a circuit which controls operation of the motor for the purpose of rotating the roll.

Mounted on the hub of the crank 20 (Fig. 7) is an insulating block 75 carrying a bridging contact 76, cooperating with two contacts 77 carried bv and insulated from a stationary bracket 78. The bridging contact 76 and the contacts 77 are in a circuit which includes a manually controllable switch 79,

IFig., 15, suitably located 'on the machine frame and of the snap or quick throwing type, self-maintaining in either open or closed position, the purpose of' this circuit being to produce automatic rotation of the roll step by step in timed relation with the opening movement of the head, as will appear.

Mounted on the stationary frame at the extreme left hand end of the roll shaft 4 is a casing within which is an insulating block 81 carried by the roll shaft 4 and ro tatablc therewith, said block being provided with three pairs of two each of contact segments 82 separated by gaps 83, the two contacts ol' each pair being cross connected by bridges 81. These contact segments cooperate with stationary yielding contact fingers b5, of which there are two, each cooperating with its row of' segments 82. The purpose of these segments and contacts 85 is to define or control the amount of step by step rotation of the roll. The gaps 83 between successive segments are relatively short and merely produce momentary interruption of the circuit during the interval while one pair of segments is leaving and the other` is approaching their cooperating contacts 85, and are also so short that in the normal step by step operation of the press the coasting of the motor and other parts while being brought to rest is sufficient to bring the following pair of segments into engagement with the contacts 85, so that the parts always come to rest in the position shown in Fig. 16, with the leading end of a pair of segments engagingv the contacts.

lVhile not essential, the machine may also be provided with suitable work feeding means preferably organized with safety means for protecting the operator. As shown, the machine is provided with anendless feeding belt or apron 86 travelling around the roll and over an idle roll 87 mounted in arms 88 centered upon and swinging about the roll axis. Figs. 9 and 10 show said arms in feeding position with the roll 87 at the front of the machine, in which position they are held by the engagement of an ear 89 on one of the arms 88 with a stationary stop lug 90 upon the stationary frame. Under certain conditions, as will appear, the arms 88 can be swung upwardly and over the top of the roll to a position at the rear of the roll approximately 180 degrees from the position shown, in which position the arms 88 and the mechanism carried thereby are supported by another stop lug 91. Upon each of the arms 88 is mounted a casing 92 enclosing a switch including the stationary contacts 93 and a bridging contact 94 carried by a rod 95, the switch being normally opened by a compression spring 96. The rods 95 carrying the bridging contacts `94 extend upwardly and are cross connected by a cylindrical rod 97 rotatable in bearing members 98 on the end of rods 95 and which roller 97 lies outside of the :feeding belt 86 at or near the point where said feeding belt enters the bite between the roll and the concave chest. The rod 97 at its ends extends through vertically` elongated slots 99 in eX- tensions 100 of the arms 88. The arrangement is such that work to be passed or fed between the roll and chest, such as flat work,

is applied to the feeding belt upon that portion thereof in front of the roll 97 and eX tending down to the roll 87.- If the operator leaves 11er fingers in contact with the work as it travels along with the feeding belt her fingers will pass with the belt and work beneath roller 97 and raise the same, thereby raising either or both of the rods 95 and closing either or both of the switches actuated thereby, and thereby stopping the machine and elevating the head, as will late appear.

Considering now Figs. 15 and 16 in connection with the apparatus described, the operation of the machine is as follows:

101 represents the mainI line switch, closure of which connects the various control circuits to the lead lines L1, L2. 102 represents two starting button switches for producing oscillation of the head lever 13 to close or open the press. These two starting switches are of the usual normally open type adapted to be closed and maintained closed only so long as the operators finger is pressed upon the button. As shown in Fig. 2 said starting buttons are suitably located on the frame of the machine and preferably are so widely separated that they cannot both be closed by the same hand, but the two hands of the operator must be used, one for pressing each button. Simultaneous pressure upon both buttons completes circuit A, Fig. 16, as follows:

From L1 through line 103, line 104, both but-tons 102, the coil 105 of a double pole, double throw relay and line 106 to L2. Energization of coil 105 opens the normally closed contacts 107 and closes the normally open contacts 108, thereby completing the motor circuit C, Fig. 16` from L1 through line 109, a contact 108, line 110, brake release coil 66, clutch actuating coil 65, line 111, the armature of motor 42, line 112, and a contact 108 to L2. The circuit J through the field coil 113 is always completed, as shown in Fig. 16. The effect of this circuit C is to start the motor in the forward direction, to release the brake band 68 and to close the clutch 60, 61. Consequently shafts 24 and 21 are driven.

Let us assume that the starting buttons have been pressed with the head in wide open position. In this position pressure limit switch 35 is closed. As soon as the llO head startsto move down, the arm 13 moves away from roller 41 and switch 37 closes, thereby completing the maintaining circuit D from line 103 through switches 35 and 37, coil 105, etc., so that the fingers can be removed from the starting button 102, but the motor will continue to run. The motor runs and drives the press closing mechanism until the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 4. to wit, with full predetermined pressure of the head applied to the bed, the upward motion of the nut 3l opening switch 35 and breaking the maintaining circuit through the relay coil 105, whereupon contacts 108 are opened and contacts 107 are closed, the motor stops, the clutch 60, 61 is opened and the brake 63 is applied. The parts stops in full pressure position and any work lying on the roll beneath the head is subjected to ironing pressure.

To open the press the starting buttons 102 are again pressed, which again completes circuit A, energizes the coil 105 and completes the same motor circuit C as above. The motor rotates in the same direction and through the operating connections moves the head lever toward open position. In closed position of the machine, switch 37 is closed and switch is opened. As soon as the pressure is relieved, nut 31 moves downwardly and closes the switch 35, again completing the maintaining circuit D from wire 103 through switches 35, 37'and relay coil 105, so that the motor continues to run until i the press is fully opened, whereupon arm 13 roll, that after one pressing operation an additional portion of the work may be fed into pressing position between the roll and bed by rotation of the roll. Rotation of the roll for feeding purposes may be produced either as a continuous motion terminated by the operator or as a step by step movement of definite amount. In either case, the feeding operation is produced in the same manner if the feeding belt and safety devices of Figs. 9 to 12 are either used or omitted. When the feeding belt is omitted, the work is applied directly to the roll, but when the feeding device is used, the work is applied to the feeding belt, which is rotated by its contact with the roll.

To rotate the roll for feeding purposes,

contacts 118 completes the motor circuit F,

Fig. 16, as follows: From line 103, through contacts 118, brake release coil 56, clutch closing coil 50, the reversing switch 120, line 121, one of the normally closed contacts 107, line 112, armature of motor 42, line 122, contact 107, line 123, reversing switch 120 and line 117 to L2.

The motor circuit is maintained closed and roll rotation continues until the segments 82 turn sufficiently so that contacts 85 ride upon the gaps 83, when the maintaining circuit to coil 115 is momentarily broken while the next set of segments move into engagement with contacts 85. If the operator maintains lier foot upon the treadle to hold switch 69, 70 closed while the gaps 83 are passing the contacts 85 the roll will rotate another step, and so on, so that according to how the operator manipulates the treadle 73 the roll will rotate one or more steps of 120 until a pair of gaps 83 has passed over the contacts 85 The circuit F, Fig. 16, includes the brake release coil 56a and the clutch closing coil 50,

so that an operative connection through clutch 47, 48 is established from the motor to the roll shaft and rotation of the roll will proceed until the operator removes her foot from the treadle, and the next gap 83 is reached. It will be observed that this circuit includes the normally closed contacts 107 of the relay 105, which are always opened when coil 105 is energized to close contacts 108. Consequently this circuit can be completed only when coil 105 is de-energized. The interlock thereby afforded prevents any rotation of the roll when the motor is operatively connected to produce movement of the head lever 13 in either direction.

Rotation of the roll produced by manipulation of the control treadle 73 is useful in two ways. First, when the machine is being used as a scissors type press, the roll may be rotated to advance the work into position beneath the head for the pressure effeet thereof, and second, the roll may be rotated continuously, so long as the operators foot is held on the treadle 73, to feed the work between the roll and head when the latter is in pressing enga ement with the roll or, in other words, w en the machine is being used as.an ironing machine of the roll and platen type.

In the machine shown, the concave head contacts with about one-third or 120 degrees of the peripheral extent of the roll surface. In ironing certain classes of work, it is therefore desirable `to feed the roll between applications of the head thereto through about 120 degrees ofrotation. The machine is therefore provided with means for producing a definite roll advance of about this extent by a step by step movement. This ar rangement utilizes theswitches shown in Figs. 13 and 14 and 7 and 8.

The closing of the manually operated snap switch 79 renders the switch 76, 77 effective. This switch is normally maintained in its open position but is moved to and is self-maintained in closing position only when the automatic operation now to be described is desired. Bridge 76 is so placed upon the insulating block that it momentarily engages its contacts 77 just before the full open position is reached and, moreover, just before the open limit switch 37 closes. In other words, at substantially the completion of opening movement of the head two things take place. First, the switch 76, 77 closes momentarily and then opens, and next the open limit switch 37 closes. Therefore, as suming switch 79 to be closed and the head to be in pressing engagement with the work on the roll, the buttons 102 may be pressed to cause head opening movement by energization of relay 105. When switch 77, 76 is momentarily closed, coil 115 is energized and it creates its own maintainingr circuit through the contacts 85 and segments 82.

However, at the instant of energization of coil 115 it is not effective to produce roll rotation, because the contacts 107 are open and will remain open until the head opening movement is completed. Coil 115, however, is maintained energized until the actual completion of head opening movement, whereupon the open limit switch 37 opens and coil 105 is cle-energized and the switches 107 move to closed position. Thereupon the motor circuit through the coils 56a and 50 is closed, and roll rotation begins and continues until the gaps 83 are reached, whereupon the circuit through coil 115 is momentarily broken and roll rotation stops, but the .next pair of segments 82 reach the contacts 85 before the parts come to rest.

Vitli this arrangement the operator lays the work upon the roll, closes the head and presses it, and causes opening movement of the roll, the completion of which opening movement produces automatic roll advance of 120, leaving the parts ready for another closing movement of the head, pressure upon the work, head opening movement, and roll advance. as before.

The purpose of the reversing switch 120 is to reverse the direction of rotation of the padded roll and itseffect is merely to reverse the leads to the armature of motor 42 through the contacts 107, G indicating the reverse motor circuit.

Because the contacts 107, 108 are both actuated by the same relay 105 it will be observed that if at any time whenthe roll is being rotated and contacts 107 are closed, the circuit through relay coil 105 is completed to cause actuation of the head closing and opening'mechanism, the contacts 107 open and break the circuit by which the motor drives the roll. Therefore, the roll will stop rotating immediately and remain idle until the head has reached either its open or its closed limiting position. However, a maintaining circuit has been maintained through coil 115 either by way of switch 70, if the yoperators foot is upon treadle 73, or by way of segments 82, which prevents the dropping out of the relay 115 until the lingers 85 pass over the next gap 83. Therefore, when the head comes to rest in either of its limiting positions, roll rotation is resumed and is completed when the foot is removed from the treadle 73 and the next gap 83 is passed. The reversing switch 120 has no effect upon this operation, but the motor will resume and continue rotation, as stated, in whichever position the reversing switch may happen to be.

The switches 93, 94, one at each end of the roll and both actuated by the safety guard 97, are in parallel circuits from the lead 104 around the pressure limit switch 35, as shown in Fig. 15.` Therefore, if at any time when the roll is rotating or work is being fed into the machine between the head and roll the safety guard 97 is raised and switch 94C is closed, the circuit B, Fig. 16, is established from the lead 103 through switch 94, the now closed open limit switch 37 and relay 105, the energization of which closes contacts 108 and opens contacts 107. The effect of this operation is to immediately stop the roll and cause the motor to actuate the press opening mechanism and raise the head to its full open position, when roll rotation will be resumed and continued until the next gap 83 is passed.

rThe feeding mechanism and safety device is held in the position shown in Figs. 10 and 11 when the machine is being used as an ironing machine of the roll and platen type, but when it is used as a pressing machine of the scissors type the arms 88 and the feed and switch mechanism carried thereby are swung back approximately 180 degrees to the rear of the machine where they are out of the way.

The machine described is in effect a convertible machine adaptable and controllable for uses in various ways so that it will press or iron a wide variety of garments or articles. Use of the machine in one way does not interfere with its use in another way and any of its operations can be produced with automatically maintained safeguard to meet any desirable ironing or pressing conditions.

What is claimed is: l. An ironing machine, comprising a relatively stationary rotatable roll, a cooperating chest movable toward and from the roll, means for so moving the chest, means for rotating the roll, and means for preventing roll rotation while the chest is moving.

2. An ironing machine, comprising a relatively stationary rotatable roll, a cooperating chest movable toward and from the roll, means for so moving the chest, means for rotating the roll, and means for preventing simultaneous roll rotation and chest movement.

3. An ironing machine, comprising a relatively stationary rotatable roll, a cooperating chest movable toward and from the roll, means for so moving the chest, means for rotating the roll, and means so arranged that when the roll is rotating the production of chest movement stops rotation of the roll.

4. An ironing machine, comprising a relatively stationary rotatable roll, a cooperating chest movable toward and from the roll, means for so moving the chest, means for rotating the roll, and means whereby roll rotation may be produced only when the chest is stationary.

5. An ironing machine, comprising a relatively stationary rotatable roll, a cooperating chest movable towardv and from the roll, means for so moving the chest, means for rotating the roll, and means effective upon completion of the movement of the chest away from the roll for initiating roll rotation.

6. An ironing machine, comprising a relaing chest movable toward and from the roll, means for so moving the chest, means for rotating the roll, an operator operated controller for said roll rotating means, an automatic controller for said roll' rotating means, and operator operated means for rendering said automatic controller eiective or ineffective. v

8. An ironing machine, comprising a relatively stationary rotatable roll, a cooperating chest movable toward and from the roll, means for so moving thel chest, means for rotating the roll, an operator operated controller for said roll rotating means, .an automatic controller for said roll rotating means actuated by chest movement, an operator operated means for rendering said automatic controller effective or ineiiective.

9. An ironing machine, comprising a relatively stationary rotatable roll, a cooperating chest movable toward and from the roll, means for so moving the chest, means for rotating the roll, an operator operated controller for said roll rotating means, an automatic controller for causing the roll rotating means to produce rotation of said roll, and means whereby chest movement controls ltoth of said controllers.

1 0. An ironing machine, comprising cooperating relatively movable roll and chest members, and work feeding means including an idler roller and an apron traveling around said member and idler roller, said idler roller being movable into and out of operative position for feeding work between said members.

11. An ironing machine, comprising cooperating relatively movable roll and chest members, a work feeding idler roller mounted to swing about the axis of said roll member into and out of operative position at the entrance to the pressing space between said members, and an apron traveling over said roll member and idler roller.

In testimony whereof we hereby aiiix our signatures.

EMIL J. CARROLL. l GEORGE W. JOHNSON. 

